Monday, September 2, 2013

What a great last day's walk it was. Surrounded by family and friends, my walk today started off with a meeting in front of LaPaz Restaurant, where I handed out maps with various themes marked with colored dots. Off we went on whatever way each chose to walk downtown; some decided to photograph the beautiful water lilies and lotus now in bloom on Carroll Creek; others went to find iron dogs; some walked the history route; my friend Karen and I went to find the Clustered Spires. I regret that I did not think to get a group shot of everyone.

A different view of Evangelical Lutheran

The day was hot and humid, but everyone returned to the restaurant at 11:30 for a lunch and a slide presentation of some of my favorite shots from this year. I spoke to the assembled group, telling them how this year long project began as "all about me," but that it quickly morphed into "all about my readers."

As comments and feedback started coming in from readers, I realized the impact that my daily walks were having on others, as well as on me. Readers who had moved away from Maryland were recognizing the places I was sharing, and they would write to tell me of their memories. A dear friend who lives three hours away from me said that checking on my walks was the highlight of her day, since we only see each other a few times a year. Another reader who was housebound for most of the winter told me she enjoyed "going out" virtually with me on my walks. One man in my camera club told me he has now added to his trip list at least 30 places he needs to visit, thanks to my walks.

Peace be with you!

Compromise on a brick wall.

I fell in love with where I live, and with my beautiful state of Maryland. There is so much to see and to do, if one only takes the time to do it. I became an advocate for small towns, many of which are struggling economically. I always tried to put a positive spin on the places I visited, even though it might have been sad to see the decline in some of the old towns. But regardless where I walked, there was always something interesting to photograph.

There IS a fifth dog, and I found it!
Thank you, Sherry, for chatting
at the fence with the owner.
I came to see what you were
up to and found the dog!

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with me today. I look forward to seeing your photos, and we will be sharing them at this site: Frederick Day 365. Give my friends a few days to get their photos posted; some may not be as speedy as I am. I have streamlined a process that I will be sharing in my future book.

It's with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat that I am closing out this blog. My blogging routine is taking a brief hiatus. It will be resurrected in a new blog, "Life Through My Lens." I'll be sharing more than photo walks, but there will be a fair number of those, too. As one reader told me, he'll miss my "musings and edifications." Don't worry, Doug...I still have plenty of musings and edifications to share. Once a teacher, always a teacher. Once a photo blogger, always a photo blogger.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Monarchs have been in short supply this year. On my walks I have seen hundreds of yellow and black swallowtails, but until today, only two monarchs. There has been a decline in their population this year, and experts speculate that it is due to changing weather patterns and over development, which deprives monarchs of the only plant upon which they lay their eggs: the common milkweed. Another theory is that the planting of GMO corn in the Midwest has led to greater use of herbicides, which also kills milkweed. Either way, the beautiful orange butterfly is in trouble.

Tagged Monarch at Black Hills

Colorful Kayaks

I drove today to Black Hills Regional Park in Montgomery County, because they were having a monarch butterfly weekend. Inside the visitor center they had plastic "environments" for butterflies, in which a number of monarchs had emerged from their chrysalises. They released about thirty of them yesterday, after tagging their wings with little stickers that can be used to track how far they have flown if they are found. I was lucky enough to get one clear enough to read. More information can be found at Monarch Watch.

One More Day!

After leaving the butterfly garden, I walked along a portion of the lake. The park was packed with people on this holiday weekend. It was hot and sunny, and under any available shade people had set up picnics. Families were playing ball, fishing, or going for a walk. Lots of people were renting kayaks and rowboats to use out on the lake.

Dragonfly in the Visitor Center

After I left the park, I headed straight for Damascus to get a Jimmie Cone. I can blame this completely on a group of young people who walked through the butterfly garden while I was there. They were debating the merits of Jimmie Cones versus soft serve from McDonalds. One of the young men said there was no difference. Ah, but there is. If I remember correctly, most soft serve ice cream is low in butterfat, but Jimmie Cone has one of the highest butterfat contents around. It's that butterfat that gives Jimmie Cones a luscious "mouth feel." I can affirm that it is good.

Tomorrow is the big day. I'm ready. Bring it on!

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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Forward me by email any receipt for an online donation made to the Red Cross for
disaster relief, and I will send you a 5x7 print of your choice from
any of my daily photo walks or from my website. Offer good until
September 2, 2013.